Discovery and management of network printers

Abstract

Managing a plurality of network devices on a network, including detecting an address assignment message sent from an address server over the network to a network device, the address assignment message containing an assigned address corresponding to the network device, sending an information request message, in response to the detection of the address assignment message, over the network from the network management device to the network device, the information request message containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device, receiving information, in response to the information request message, from the network device, and creating an entry corresponding to the network device in a device management directory, the entry containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device and the information received from the network device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention concerns a network appliance for automatic detection and management of network devices connected to the network appliance. Specifically, the invention detects a network device by listening for an IP address request from the network device, and then obtaining configuration information and capabilities of the network device by using the IP address provided to the network device. The network appliance provides a common focal point for the network administrator to configure and manage all network devices detected by the network appliance.[0003]2. Incorporation by Reference[0004]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 664,531, entitled “Object-Based Architecture For Supporting Network Devices,” filed Sep. 18, 2000, is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in full herein.[0005]3. Description of the Related Art[0006]The administration of network devices, such as network printers, in a network environment is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Preferably, the address request message is a DHCP address request. The present invention also preferably allows for a plurality of such network management devices for distribution across a large, complex network in order to detect and manage all network printers throughout the network. In such an embodiment, the set of network printers managed by each network management device are preferably connected to the respective network management device by a local network and are not visible to all other servers, workstations and other devices on the main network. In addition, in a multiple network management device environment, the detection and management of all network printers on the network is performed in a coordinated fashion between the multiple network management devices to avoid unnecessary redundancy and network confusion, and to balance the functional support for all network printers among the multiple network management devices based on resource availability and location of each network management device.

[0017]By virtue of the foregoing, efficient management of a large number of network devices, such as network printers and other devices, across a

Problems solved by technology

The administration of network devices, such as network printers, in a network environment is typically a tedious and time consuming task for network managers.

In particular, for large and complex network environments having several local servers, there may be a large number of printers distributed throughout the network.

In a large enterprise, such as a large, physically distributed company with large numbers of printers, the foregoing system administrative tasks related to network printers can be overwhelming.

In addition to the network administration tasks associated with the printers, other network problems can arise in relation to the printers.

For example, a large number of printers on the network can generate a significant amount of network traffic between the print servers and the printers.

Such large amounts of network traffic can detract from the other communication between wor

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